The France booth at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is, as always, located outside of the France pavilion just as you cross over the bridge from International Gateway and the United Kingdom pavilion.
You’ll find 3 dishes there this year – two savory and one sweet.
- Croissant aux Escargots: Escargot Croissant with Garlic and Parsley ($5.75)
It’s back and ugly and delicious as ever. The famous escargot croissant from the F&W France booth is supposed to look like this:
But when you order it you get this instead:
So we’re not winning any prizes for presentation here. But it doesn’t matter because when you bite into it you get this:
I could care less how ugly the thing it because the croissant and escargot are just a vehicle to get the garlic and butter into my mouth. (Pro tip: Don’t eat this on a first date. And bring mints regardless.) The croissant is warm and flaky and the escargot add the slightest bit of texture and all in all it’s just as delicious and ugly as it always is. If the snails don’t bother you and you’re not on a low carb diet, get one of these.
- Carbonade de Boeuf, Purée de Pommes de Terre: Beer-braised Beef with Bacon, Onion and Mashed Potatoes ($6.25)
Speaking of ugly dishes. Oy. France. You’re killing me.
This is…fine. Honestly it’s not as good as last year’s version, which was Cabernet Sauvignon-braised. The potatoes have an odd consistency and I tasted no sign of the bacon or onions. If it was just what I was having for some random dinner one night, I’d probably eat it without complaint, but there are better beef dishes to be had at Food & Wine.
- Crème Brûlée à la Confiture de Framboises: Crème Brûlée with House-made Raspberry Jam (vegetarian, gluten free, kid-friendly) ($4.25)
This is another repeat performance from last year. It’s crème brûlée with raspberry jam, so there’s not much not to like here. The top is a tiny bit thicker than it probably should be and (likely on account of the raspberry jam) the cream is a tiny bit wetter than it probably should be. But, again, it’s raspberry topped crème brûlée so by definition it’s good. The raspberry is just tart enough to cut the sweetness and, while the texture is a little off perfect, it goes down easy.
- La Passion Martini Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron, Cranberry, and Passion Fruit Juice ($10.75)
The price on this is ridiculous but man does it taste good on a hot day. If you’re getting wasted on these you have more money than me but I’m never above throwing just one back when it’s 100 degrees outside. Grab one too and enjoy it.
Until next time, France. Check!
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